Arima Borough Corporation Annual Report 2018 – 2019
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Arima Borough Corporation Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Arima Borough Corporation Administrative Report 2018 – 2019 Page | 1 Arima Borough Corporation Administrative Report 2018 – 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS MAYOR’S SPEECH ______________________________________________________ 03 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY _________________________________________________ 05 Page | 2 1.0 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ARIMA BOROUGH CORPORATION (ABC)____________06 2.0 ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT __________________________________________ 14 3.0 WORKS/ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT _________________________________ 23 4.0 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME _______________________________________ 31 5.0 PUBLIC HEALTH _________________________________________________ 35 6.0 THE ARIMA MUNICIPAL POLICE SERVICE________________________ 40 7.0 DISASTER MANAGEMENT UNIT ______________________________________ 60 8.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY _____________________________________________ 66 9.0 INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT _____________________________________ 68 10.0 THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT ______________________________________ 71 11.0 ASSESSMENT ___________________________________________________ 77 Arima Borough Corporation Administrative Report 2018 – 2019 MAYOR’S SPEECH Ladies and Gentlemen, It is indeed a great pleasure to stand before you as your newly re-inaugurated Mayor. One hundred and thirty-one years ago, Queen Victoria declared Arima a Royal Chartered Borough, which positioned Arima as the first and only Royal Chartered Borough in the Western Hemisphere. Today, witnessed the tradition of the passing of the chain, we also experienced the symbolic passing Page | 3 of the fundamental rights of democracy. It is because of our freedom of rights, we have an opportunity to serve you, the people of Arima. The photos on the walls of this Town Hall are former Mayors who have once served this great Borough, but despite our differences we all have one thing in common, Our Love for Arima! This Borough is the one of the smallest municipalities in Trinidad, however at just four (4) square miles, we have one of the largest impacts on this nation. Over the years, our Arimians have significantly contributed to this great country. We are proud to be the home of the Santa Rosa First Peoples’ Community and the birth place of cultural icons such as Ian Alverez also known as Bunji Garlin, the late Alwyn Roberts, also known as the Lord Kitchener and Mr. Holly Betaudier, known as the Arima Kid. We can also boast of great sport persons such as the first female Olympian Laura Pierre, track and field athletes: George Lewis, Cliff Bertrand and Lennox Yearwood. Cricketers: Prince Bartholomew, Larry Gomes, Phil Simmons and Sunil Narine. Footballers: Robert Bruce, Keith Look Loy, Derek King and Robert "Keithos" Joseph. Arima, indeed has a lot of talent in which we must harvest and cultivate. We must continue to be trailblazers and set the bar high for the rest of the country to follow. Arima is a unique and wonderful town full of rich history and culture. It is my hope to ensure that Arima moves from Borough status to city status in the next few years. In my last tenure as Mayor, the Council strategically pursued projects that guaranteed our steps to city status. We are totally grateful for the construction of a hospital in Arima and the initiatives for the market, however we are still in need of other amenities. We would like to have the Immigration Division set up a Passport Office here in Arima, so that our burgesses do not have the hassle of traversing to another area. A magistrate court and the solely needed Administration complex. Arima is one of the largest transit hubs in the country and as such persons visiting our Borough may need to sojourn. However, we need more guesthouses, bed and breakfast and hotels. Additionally, with the construction of the Toco port more businesses will flock to the east and we will welcome being the first stop. Today, I declare that Arima is once more open for business. Ladies and Gentlemen, we must protect our Borough from any creeping delinquency and corruption. We must reject the negative undercurrents set by these criminals who pose as charitable characters. Beware of the wolves dressed in sheep clothing. We will not tolerate indecency and lewdness in Arima, it will be stamped out! Arima Borough Corporation Administrative Report 2018 – 2019 To my Council members, I urge you to be very accessible to your burgesses and remember that your role is to be of service to the people of Arima. They will keep you in line. Also, for this Borough to continue to thrive as it has, we must work in unison. According to Mattie Stepanek, “Unity is strength when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." Let us be our brothers and sisters’ keepers and get the job done. Page | 4 To my past Council members, I thank you for your years of service to our great Borough. We have had our challenges, but we made it through. I wish you great success in your future endeavors. To the Ministers and Members of Parliament present, I sincerely thank you for all your support throughout my last tenure. To the CEO and the Heads of Departments of the Arima Borough Corporation, thank you for your support and I look forward to a stronger relationship. Thank you to the Municipal Police for your continued protection. To my staff at the Town Hall, thank you for your diligence and support. I am truly appreciative of each and every one. I ask that as I serve, you support me and the Council. I pray for the continued growth of this great Borough and May God bless us all! Her Worship the Mayor Councillor Lisa Morris-Julian Arima Borough Corporation Administrative Report 2018 – 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document is in response to a request made by the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for an annual report on the exercise of the functions and powers of the Arima Municipal Corporation in accordance with Section 66D of the Constitution. Page | 5 The Document is divided into twelve sections. The First section describes the general functions of the Arima Corporation (also referred to as the Arima Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Arima Borough Corporation (ABC) giving its background, mission, vision and overall structure. The Second section outlines the performance of the Accounting Unit. Section Three contains the report of the Works/Engineering Department. It provides information on construction projects. Section Four deals with works carried out/executed under the Development Programme. Section Five deals with Contracts awarded for the procurement of Goods and Services. Section Six deals with the performance of the Public Health Department. Reports on the activities of the Sanitation Foremen, Public Health Nurse of the Corporation are contained in this section. The Seventh section refers to the Arima Municipal Police Service and the Litter Prevention Wardens. Section Eight summarizes the report of the Disaster Management Unit. The ninth section contains the report of the operations of the Internal Audit Department. The tenth section contains the report of the Personnel Department and deals with human resource management issues. The Eleventh section summarizes the report of the Assessment Department. The final section – section Twelve – highlights recommendations for the future with respect to the administration and development of this Royal Chartered Borough. Arima Borough Corporation Administrative Report 2018 – 2019 1.0 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ARIMA BOROUGH CORPORATION (ABC) 1.1 Corporate History The Arima Borough Corporation is a corporate body, comprised of the Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough. It was originally established under the Arima Corporation Ordinance Chap. 39 No. 11 (1950 ed.) In 1990, greater political decentralization was Page | 6 effected with the promulgation of the Municipal Corporation’s Act – Act No. 21 of 1990. 1.2 Core Business As outlined in the Strategic Planning Framework of the Arima Borough Corporation for 2014 – 2018, the core business of the Corporation is to ensure the planning, development and maintenance of a safe, modern and sustainable Borough. In order to achieve these strategic priorities the Corporation pursued the following core business goals, amongst others: - 1. The planning, implementation and maintenance of major infrastructural works in Arima with significant emphasis on: The construction and commissioning of the Arima administration building; Arima market; the upgrade of police accommodation; the refurbishment of the Velodrome; and the development of the Princess Royal Park among others; 2. Development of programmes which will involve burgesses in healthy, productive lifestyles and activities; and 3. A holistic strengthening and development of the municipal police service to allow for improved all round personal and infrastructural security in the Borough. 1.3 Vision Statement: “To be a historically preserved, green, efficient, developed and effective Royal Chartered Borough serving a dynamic society”. 1.4 Mission Statement: “The Arima Borough Corporation is committed to forging partnerships with all stakeholders in creating a unique Royal Chartered Borough that delivers quality services, while preserving our distinct history, heritage and culture”. 1.5 Competitive Advantage: “Arima is blessed with royal chartered status for over 100 years. Our rich cultural heritage, strong communal roots, sporting icons and ambassadors, coupled with our commitment to being the premier provider of goods and services to our burgesses and other